Knee decisions — 2008

The Board has decided that the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee injury should be remanded due to incomplete medical records and potential need for an examination.

The veteran seeks service connection for various disabilities, including diabetes mellitus. The claims are being remanded to allow for further development and examination.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for increased ratings for cervical spine strain, left knee strain, and left shoulder strain. The claim for an increased rating for Addison's disease was also denied as there were no objective manifestations of the disability.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection and initial compensable ratings for her right hand/wrist disorder, patellofemoral syndrome of both knees, and uterine fibroids.

The Board denied the veteran's appeal because a timely Notice of Disagreement was not filed within one year after the RO issued its June 2003 rating decision.

The Board denied the veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, left knee disability with osteophyte formation, and left ankle deformity. The veteran's left knee disability is rated as noncompensable due to minimal arthritis and limited motion, while his left ankle deformity is also rated as noncompensable.

The Board found no evidence of a current right knee disability in service or within one year post-service, and the VA examination did not establish a link between the veteran's current right knee condition and his service-connected left knee and back conditions. Therefore, the claim for direct service connection was denied.

The VA treatment on September 22, 2003 did not result in any additional disability to the veteran's left knee or lumbar spine. The Board finds that there is no evidence linking the veteran's current conditions to the VA procedure.

The Board has determined that new and material evidence has been received to reopen the veteran's claim of entitlement to service connection for a right knee disability, but has denied the claim as there is no evidence showing a current right knee disability related to his active duty service.

The Board granted a higher initial rating of 40 percent for the veteran's hypertension disability from February 20, 1998 to October 18, 2001. The claims for increased ratings for left knee arthritis and right knee disability were denied.

The veteran's claims for service connection for headaches, kidney disability, bilateral knee joint pain, hand joint pain, and throat blockage were denied due to lack of evidence linking these conditions to his military service.

The Board has granted service connection for the veteran's right knee disability as secondary to his service-connected left knee disability.

The Board has determined that the veteran's service-connected left and right knee disabilities do not warrant increased ratings in excess of 10 percent at any time during the appeal period.

The Board has determined that the case requires additional development due to the need for clarification of the veteran's periods of active duty and inactive duty training, as well as further examination regarding the etiology of his claimed conditions.

The Board granted service connection for a right knee disorder and melanoma, finding that the disorders are related to exposure to Agent Orange in service.

The Board found no evidence of a chronic cervical spine disability in service or within one year after separation from service.,There is no medical evidence linking the veteran's current bilateral knee strain to his military service.

The VA determined that the veteran's service-connected disabilities do not prevent him from obtaining and retaining substantially gainful employment.

The Board has granted service connection for a right shoulder strain, but denied service connection for back and knee disabilities as they are not related to the veteran's active military service.

The Board found that the veteran's tinnitus did not have its onset in service and is not related to his active military service. The initial rating for degenerative joint disease of the left knee, status post meniscectomy, remains denied as there was no evidence provided to support a higher rating.

The Board denied the veteran's request to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for a left knee disability, finding that no new and material evidence had been submitted.